Ask Dr. Gourmet

What diet should a diabetic on Coumadin (warfarin) follow?

I can't seem to find on your site a diet for those with diabetes who is on Coumadin (warfarin). My husband had open heart surgery in January and I can't seem to cook right: every time he goes to get his INR level checked it is different. He is also a diabetic on oral medication for that. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dr. Gourmet Says...

The first step is for you and your husband to speak with your physician about the the number of calories he should be eating each day. Many physicians have a dietitians available to their patients. Such referrals are especially helpful and if possible, you should go to the appointment with your husband.

Diabetics need to follow a diet based on a strict number of calories each day. Sometimes the number is to help with weight loss. At the same time it's extremely important for diabetics to eat a balanced diet. One key to this is consuming three regularly scheduled meals each day. Often doctors will recommend that their diabetic patients have a small bedtime snack as part of their diet as well.

The plans created using The Dr. Gourmet Diet Plan software on the Dr. Gourmet website will have you following a Mediterranean-style diet, which our most recent evidence shows is the best diet for diabetics. Using the planner with the number of calories recommended by your doctor or dietitian is an option, and you can choose the Coumadin user option, which will structure your husband's Vitamin K intake to be consistent on a daily basis. Both you and your husband can follow the same meal plan - there is no reason for you to cook one meal for yourself and one for your husband. A Coumadin-safe diet will be safe and healthy for you, too.

There are also food lists on the Dr. Gourmet Web site to help guide you. They range from very basic information about Vitamin K content to very detailed. Here are the links:

http://www.drgourmet.com/md/warfarinbrief.pdf

http://www.drgourmet.com/md/relativewarfarinlist.pdf

http://www.drgourmet.com/md/warfarincomprehensive.pdf

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet

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